“A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.” -Proverbs 11:16-17
There are people in this world that lead us to a better life with their kindness. Even if their acts of kindness are not directed at us personally, they still affect our lives for the better.
My sister has always, always been an inspiration to me for her kindness to everyone and every living thing. This morning, she was fueling her car when the cashier recognized her as a neighbor. The cashier asked my sister where she purchased the cute child-sized lawn chairs on our porch; she would like to have some the same size for her grandchildren. My sister is a great shopper of thrift stores and yard sales; she knows the good stuff when she sees it! Instead of re-selling the chairs with the opportunity to triple or quadruple her monetary outlay, she kindly said, “Just take those chairs right off the porch and use them for your grandchildren. Mine are too big for them now!”
The generosity of my sister has always affected my life but never more than these later years together. To know that she would rather make someone happy than to ‘make a good deal’ reminds me that our lives are not given to us to live in comfort for ourselves. Life is not alive if we are not making someone else happy with a smile, a caring word, a self-less act of kindness. God knitted a few of us for total and complete love. I hope you recognize that person in your life today and give God sincere thanks for them!
Acts of kindness are like late summer sunflowers: Once you begin to see them, you see them everywhere!
Sue Gibbons, Assistant to St. Luke’s Worship Team
